Native American
leaders have played a significant role in the history of the United
States, in particular its expansion across the North American continent.
While their lands were snatched up piecemeal by land-thirsty settlers,
miners, and others, these brave leaders listed below, and many others,
worked in battle and in peace to protect their land and their people.
When elementary and high school students are taught American history,
it usually begins with Christopher Columbus and the Nina, Pinta,and Santa
Maria discovering the New World. Never mind that the Americas already
were inhabited by highly advanced civilizations. With the arrival of Columbus,
official history begins. It should come as no surprise that great Native
American leaders are for the most part ignored in history classes
rooted in the old Columbus myths. In fact, it is debatable that he was
even the first European to arrive in the Americas. But that is a different
story. The few Native American exceptions to make the history books were
the "friends of the whites"--Pochahontas, Squanto, etc--or "vicious
savages"--Pontiac, Crazy Horse. Our
Mother Earth is being polluted at an alarming rate, and our elders
say that she is dying. The way the weather is around the world ... a cleansing
is needed. In this way, the indigenous communities can become the natural
guides to restoring balance and harmony in the world. Our grandfathers
taught us to have an integrated vision. The important thing is to look
for balance. We should take care of what does not belong to us, for the
future, because it is only ours temporarily. The Great
Spirit created us with two ears and one mouth. The Great Spirit did
this with purpose. It is for us to remember to listen carefully to not
only what another says but to what she does not say. The Great
Chiefs were mighty men who faced impossible problems.

"Mother Earth places the energy of the Creator in us and helps us
stay connected to the Creator.There are sacred sites every 100 miles around
mother earth. Many are disrespected - such as Devils Tower with the climbers
and Bear Butte. Others have concrete and huge skyscrapers built over them
and we cannot hear. So we are not receiving this energy. Then we have
polluted the earth where we grow our food. Food's purpose is to nourish
our bodies as well as our spirits with Creator's energy. We are eating
food without spirit. We are drinking water without spirit. We are consuming
hatred. We don't even pray over our food. We just eat it like it is ours.
That's greedy. It is a gift. These men acted on behalf of what they believe.
They believe the US is greedy and they want to stop it. They are consumed
with the disease of the mind. We all are to some extent. Learn to listen.
Learn to be still on Mother Earth. Get priorities in balance. He also
said to make ties and pray every day for the people of this world. All
people."Arvol
Looking Horse

Being wise, having wisdom, is knowing what to do with what you know,
when to do it, and how to do it. Or sometimes a person must know enough
to do nothing. Native
American wisdom focuses on a more external format of healing wounds
and bringing peace through good feelings. It teaches us to be mindful
of a person's emotional damages as well.

The wise individual looks and hears the unspoken signals that scream
for the need to be recognized. The gentle and sensitive listener is
adept at the art of creating safety and space for sharing that allows
others to express their needs. Respect for all forms of life, unfortunately,
is not a common value in many cultures today. It is easier to respect
someone stronger, faster, or richer.

Human beings cannot understand another's life until they have carried
the weight of that person's burdens, listened to that person's words,
felt that person's pain, observed that person's actions, and walked
along that person's path, sharing the others greatest longings and
aspirations. Understanding those things we must then be able to sleep
at that person's fire, sharing every part of the other human being's
dreams and nightmares.